Mick , in answer to your question, there were stonemason and carpenters " cards " in action but word has been passed on.

Vossie, nice pics thanks, and a pleasure to have you. On this trip I have remarked on the amount of Herons and the fact that they are quite tame [ brave ?]. Twice myself and Ben have witnessed a Heron catch a fish and eat it within a few yards of us . Lots of times they have stood on the bank as 4E passed by.

This one from Ben of one that actually flew alongside the moving boat to catch fish.

you are welcome aboard at any time just sorry the particular day at Hill of Downs we were on the way home. Did hear you were at the Hatch last weekend - keep it up, the dream will happen. Small group with these larger ladies but they are all willing to open out to people.

The Winter has passed and the project finished ( ish !!), and the day dawned where the photos you dream about are available. A lovely sunny day with good company - Snark and Hawthorn - and all tucked in for the evening at Lock 10 Ashtown. That bridge is to be tested on Saturday morning , anyone who wants to witness it - come on down!
The next step on our journey is to the Blackwood Feeder from where 4E was taken in 1955 to go to the Royal Canal in Longford as a maintenance boat. I will fill in the gaps from Confey when I get a chance, in the meantime - happy and safe boating to everyone.

Brilliant stuff Joe and a classic photo shot, I suspect we will see it again...!
Having seen the wheelhouse in its "raw state" the finished product looks really well.
10 out of 10 to the apprentice !
Hope to drop in on ye all in Dublin in the not too distant future.
PS: Just might have the camera with me........

Thanks to you all for your support and 4E is safely in Grand Canal Dock after a great trip into Dublin, there was a lot of last minute stuff before the off and it all held together thankfully. Beth we didn't put mast up but a flag pole was in action.

Agreed Richard, it is quite the collection. I promised to fill in the gaps so this is the start of it. 4E was very quickly scrambled to action with the impending bridge lift date, so set sail with internals very unfinished.

I didn't mention before but the Confey Winter community, who are much depleted and soon to be gone altogether, were very gratefull for the hospitallity of the RCAG and to show this a couple of days were spent giving the boat house a much needed lick of paint.

So 10.30 am on Thursday after our five month winter lay-up, we set off in convoy ( Snark, 4E and Hawthorn ) and with Ashtown as our goal our day was a lovely one to travel the canal. The WI crews were still in evidence from Clonsilla and a huge job has been done on the deep sinking which is a difficult area to get at and full marks to them for a job well done.

Congrats Joe. Btw, that fabulous M50 photo is one of the best photo's I've ever seen. The Irish Times would bite your hand off for a shot like that. I hope it gets the exposure it deserves. It would also make a great poster for IWAI events and publicity.

The Deep Sinking at Clonsilla is a special place on a good day and we certainly had one, the first two pics are from Ben who was bank crawling, the third is from Giles who had slipped into the middle after we had a little diesel scare.

The 12th lock at Castleknock was our first since October 2011 and was handled easily with Des in attendance. The sun brought out the 'gongoozelers' in droves which adds to the atmosphere and good practice when heading townwards.

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